Getting “back to nature” by going camping may seem like an environmentally friendly activity by default. But outdoor adventuring can be surprisingly challenging to navigate with a light tread.
Even if you are mindful of your car mileage and tent site selection, the chemicals that go into the manufacture of camping gear can have long-term impacts on the planet. With record numbers of Australians keen to commune with nature, here are some ways to reduce your impact.
Travel light
Small is good, says Lee Atkinson, travel writer and author of Ultimate Road Trips Australia. “Opt for a tent or a camper trailer that you can power with a solar blanket or panels rather than a big motorhome or caravan with lots of appliances.”
Not only will you save on fuel and power, Atkinson says, “but if you have a small off-road trailer, you’ll also be able to go places that you can’t get to in a big rig, like national parks”.
Leave no trace
Eschewing a vehicle altogether and travelling on foot is, of course, a lower-impact option – but off-grid camping brings with it a whole other set of personal responsibilities.
“It requires planning and commitment to self-sufficiency,” says Caro Ryan, who runs a website and podcast on hiking and adventuring. Ryan advises learning about local flora to avoid sensitive vegetation when setting up camp.
“Look for more robust surfaces such as rock and packed earth,” she says, to minimise disturbance and erosion.
Detergents and soaps are a no-go when wild camping – with Ryan also recommending against those labelled “biodegradable” or “eco-safe,” which only break down in soil, not water. Instead, she recommends washing up with boiled hot water and grit, “whether a bit of sand or gravel.” Discard food scraps and used washing up water away from the watercourse.
Personal hygiene pretty much follows the same process as washing up, with a light and quick-drying “Chux” being Ryan’s washcloth of choice. If you decide to bathe in a creek or river, be aware that soap, insect repellent or sunscreen can pollute the water – as can toothpaste.
“And of course, take all rubbish with you, including your poo!” Ryan says. For more eco-friendly toileting ideas, Google (carefully!) “pee cloths” and “poo tubes” – pieces of kit that are standard for experienced adventurers.
Choosing your kit
Designed to keep you dry and warm, while still being light and portable, camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags and jackets are most commonly made from problematic human-made fabrics and waterproofed with non-biodegradable chemicals.
Start by asking yourself what you really need to own, and what equipment might be able to be borrowed, shared, or rented from various companies hiring out gear Australia-wide. When it comes to buying, there are a few tips you can use to minimise your impact as best you can.
Buy good quality gear that will last a long time.
Look for the sustainability statements of manufacturers, and whether they offer repair options and post-life recycling programs to stop products going to landfill. Some will also sell secondhand products back to the public.
Find out if they’re using recycled or virgin plastics in their gear, where they’re sourced from and how they’re waterproofed.
Look out for certifications from organisations such as bluesign®, Oeko-Tex, GOTS and the Responsible Down Standard (RDS).
If you do invest and buy, don’t discard it if something breaks or it isn’t right for your next adventure, says Ryan. “It’s possible to repairs zippers in packs, or burst holes in puffer jackets or fix tents,” she says.
“You can send your sleeping bag to be cleaned where they remove the down/filling, wash it and re-insert it into the bag. They can even add more responsibly sourced down filling to make your bag warmer for a bigger trip.”
Fire safety
While many consider a camp fire an essential part of the experience, they can of course do serious damage. It’s vital to follow local fire regulations, which can also cover camp stoves as well as open fires.
Other national parks, Atkinson says, may insist you only burn wood you’ve collected outside the park, meaning you’ll need to BYO. Though if you really want to reduce emissions, the best solution is to “rug up in a woolly jumper”, she says.
In the end, everything we do has some impact on the environment. By getting out and enjoying nature, it can make us more inclined to appreciated and protect it.
Change by degrees offers life hacks and sustainable living tips each Saturday to help reduce your household’s carbon footprint. Got a question or tip for reducing household emissions? Email us at changebydegrees@theguardian.com
